Russell Brand Arrested in New Orleans for Phone-Tossing Incident

Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office(NEW ORLEANS) — ABC News Radio has confirmed Russell Brand was arrested by New Orleans police Thursday afternoon following a report earlier this week that he snatched a paparazzo’s cellphone and tossed it through the window of a law firm.

Brand, who’s filming a movie in New Orleans, faces a charge of simple criminal damage in connection with the incident, which occurred Monday after the photographer used his iPhone to take pictures of the British actor-comedian. Brand was released Thursday afternoon.

TMZ.com reported Thursday that Brand has paid $240 to fix the window he broke.

Brand, the ex-husband of pop star Katy Perry, alluded to the incident Wednesday on Twitter, writing, “Since Steve Jobs died I cannot bear to see anyone use an iPhone irreverently, what I did was a tribute to his memory.”